Montco pulls together resources to help victims of domestic violence

Mark Levy, Montgomery County prothonotary, received an award recognizing his committment and dedication to the fight against domestic violence during an awareness ceremony at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown Tuesday. (Photo by Carl Hessler Jr./The Mercury)

NORRISTOWN — Victims’ advocates, law enforcers and court officials, those on the front lines of the battle against domestic violence, gathered Tuesday to support survivors and to honor those who have shared their expertise to help victims.

“Domestic violence, as you all know, is a major problem. We must continue to raise awareness of the issue and the resources available to assist victims,” Michael R. Kehs, chairman of The Domestic Violence Legal Network of Montgomery County, told a crowd of about 125 who attended the organization’s annual awareness ceremony.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The DVLN was formed in 1986 by professionals from law enforcement, the judiciary and victims’ services agencies for the purpose of sharing resources and expertise to serve victims more effectively.

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“A core of faithful participants has kept DVLN alive and relevant for the last 26 years,” said Kehs, who also unveiled the organization’s official website, which offers links to various victim support organizations and publications about domestic violence. “It’s a matter of pulling together these resources and sharing the information.”

Pottstown Police Chief Mark D. Flanders and police Capt. F. Richard Drumheller were among the law officers who attended the ceremony. The Pottstown Police Department also is a member of the DVLN.

Flanders, who also is a DVLN board member, said the annual ceremony provides an important opportunity to show support to those in the community who are victims of domestic violence.

“To let them know that we are there and we’re concerned, we care, and we want to be a part of the solution,” Flanders said. “It communicates the message that we’re all in it together, that we support the victims. We’re there for them. I want people to realize that we are concerned and we want to be part of the solution to the problem.”

Mark Levy, the county’s elected prothonotary, received an award in recognition and appreciation for “his strong commitment and dedication to the fight against domestic violence.” The prothonotary’s office handles the filing of victims’ petitions for protection from abuse orders.

In Montgomery County, during 2011, court officials processed 1,650 protection from abuse orders, according to officials.

Lillian Sulliman, a court advocate for victims who has worked for the Women’s Center of Montgomery County for 17 years, described Levy as an “honorable, kind, courteous, gentleman” who has streamlined the process for victims filing for protection from abuse orders.

Sulliman said that filing process previously was cumbersome and intimidating and often took half a day or more for victims to complete. With policies implemented by Levy, that process has been reduced to about two hours.

“His staff is courteous, kind, efficient and caring, all qualities that Mark embodies,” Sulliman said on behalf of all court advocates. “I thank you Mark. We appreciate you, we admire you, we respect you and we honor you as a friend.”

Appearing humbled, Levy, referring to a moment shortly after he was elected five years’ ago, recalled seeing a little boy with his battered mother in a courthouse hallway, begging to go home as the woman undertook the tedious process of applying for a protection order. The victim told her little boy, “Not yet, we’re almost there,” Levy said.

“No child, no child in Montgomery County should see their mom with that kind of tension,” Levy told the crowd, emphasizing victims are treated with respect and children see that someone cares about their mother.

“She’ll leave here saying, ‘Wow, I do have an advocate; somebody does care,’” Levy added.

Norristown Police Capt. Willie Richet presented a $200 check from the DVLN to the Thomas Barone Scholarship Fund, a fund set up in honor of Barone, a Norristown police officer who was killed in the line of duty Oct. 11, 1992, while investigating a domestic violence complaint.

“He was there to help someone that was calling out for help. Unfortunately, he had to answer that call with his life,” said Richet, referring to Barone. “We’re proud of what our officers are doing as far as fighting domestic violence.”

During the ceremony, officials displayed artwork created by county teenagers who entered the Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Poster Contest, which is sponsored by Laurel House, a domestic violence shelter in the county.

“A portion of domestic violence is dating violence. Dating violence is happening in our middle schools, high schools and colleges as we speak. This gives them information, or a place to turn to get information…to build an awareness from them,” said Tommie Wilkins, director of community education at Laurel House.